Michigan WFO

[Derocherconstruction]

Re: Michigan WFO

That's what I did was picked out the nicest ones for the floor, and the ones that I dinged up on the 50 mile trip north I used on the dome. Another thing that I noticed was that the firebricks that were reddish in color cut lots harder than the ones that were whiter. They all came from the same pallet, I figured that they were all the same until I started cutting. I used most of the red bricks for the floor, but now everything looks pretty much the same after lots of pizza's... Jim

[mfiore]

Re: Michigan WFO

Well, I'm waiting for my insulation boards. I received 3, but it looks like I miscalculated and will likely need 4 for a 42 inch oven.

In the meantime, I've cut some bricks for the soldier course. Decided on half high brick.

[toddj]

Re: Michigan WFO

That looks really nice!

[mfiore]

Re: Michigan WFO

Thanks, Todd.

Still waiting for the insulation boards. I've been working out the HF saw in the interim.

Planning the vent area, side walls, arch support. For the floor, I see that most are not using anytime of mortar underneath, just fireclay for leveling. How about the very front few bricks under the arches? Should any of them get mortared down?

I'll use some corrugated cardboard for an expansion gap between the dome and the floor. Should this continue outside the oven onto the vent landing?

[Breven]

Re: Michigan WFO

I didn't mortar mine down in front...not sure if it would hurt or not. Those bricks do get pretty darn hot, I'm sure there's thermal expansion there. I've only had my oven up to temp a few times now, so I'm not sure how much movement there will be- haven't seen any in the landing area yet.

[Ken524]

Re: Michigan WFO

Mike,

I didn't mortar the bricks down under the arch sides. I don't think it's necessary.

[mfiore]

Re: Michigan WFO

Ken, how about this brick? Isn't that mortared down, or am I looking at that wrong?

[aureole]

Re: Michigan WFO

That's sand and fireclay base for the bricks - except I think Ken used the leftover grindings from his cuts (which is basically fireclay).

[Breven]

Re: Michigan WFO

Yeah Mike...that's a fireclay mixture. I did the same thing (per the FB plans). That mixture really holds the floor bricks in place, it's a really sticky clay. However, since there is no concrete in it, it allows some room for thermal expansion.

[Breven]

Re: Michigan WFO

Oh, one mroe thing. When I went looking for a bag of fireclay, I could only find something called Mortar Clay- which, as it turns out, is the same thing.

[mfiore]

Re: Michigan WFO

If my bricks all sit level, is the fireclay necessary? (I'm using insulation boards, not vermicucrete).

Also, do I really need to mix the fireclay with sand?

[Breven]

Re: Michigan WFO

Thats a good question. I think the main function of the fireclay slurry is to help you level your bricks. Even if the floor is perfectly level, the bricks usually have slight differences. I thought my bricks where spot on even, but after laying them down, there were little curves here and there...some of the bricks rocked a little if I put a bit of pressure on one side or the other. Also, it was nice to have them seated in that bed when I ran the belt sander over the floor so they didn't move.

[mfiore]

Re: Michigan WFO

Had a productive weekend (relatively speaking )

My boards arrived. I was surprised, but they were not very uniform in size. It took quite a bit of work to level the bricks. I used the fire clay that I gathered from the sludge on the bottom of the wet saw tray. Mixed dry with sand. It worked out well.

[mfiore]

Re: Michigan WFO

Next, I built the side walls for the vent area. I don't know why I did this first, rather than the dome. Just worked out that way. Hope it's all right. I tried to stagger brick whenever possible to avoid continuous lines of mortar.

[mfiore]

Re: Michigan WFO

I got the first three brick in my soldier course down before having to wrap it up. The rest will have to wait until next week!